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What is family, exactly? Your blood relatives? The people you spend the most time with?
In my case, my family's never been cut and dry. The people who I should care about the most have either inexplicably let me down, or I've done the same to them. It's a harsh circle that's never been fully broken.
Even with all of the loss I've experienced...
KING COUNTY JAIL
SEATTLE, 2004
Duncan Kincaid jumps for joy on the inside, but remains calm and collected as he steps outside the King County Jail. He stares up at the beaming sunlight, unable to remember the last time he felt so...happy.
He had spent far too long in prison for a crime he didn't commit. A sentence he was railroaded into by his lover's husband. All for one night that turned into a torrid love affair, Duncan was the prime suspect when the woman turned up raped and murdered.
Never mind his alibi. Disappearing witnesses take care of that.
Never mind DNA evidence. That too can disappear.
It's a bitch when your brother is the one leading the investigation against you. And it's even worse when he's the lead detective on the Seattle PD. Sleeping with his brother's wife was a boneheaded move. Duncan knows that.
It was an accident.
He never expected to actually develop feelings for Kelly.
But that's behind him now. He has a new life, and a new mission.
Duncan waits as a limousine rolls up next to him. He opens the door and slides inside, where he is met by a tall, muscular black male. The man extends his hand.
"Duncan Kincaid? My name is Quentin Blood," the man says.
"My lawyer told me you helped get me out of here," Duncan says.
Quentin nods. "That's true."
"So, what's the deal? What do you want me to do?"
"I want you to get revenge on your brother, Joel Kincaid," Quentin says, matter-of-factly.
After a few moments of silent, Duncan finally allows himself to crack a smile. "Done."
KIMBERLY BLACK'S APARTMENT
MARQUETTE COVE, 2004
"Any other questions?" Kimberly Black says, looking at Duncan Kincaid. They both stand in the kitchen in her apartment, where she finishes up interviewing him as a potential roommate.
"None that I can think of at the moment," Duncan says smiling. "I'm just really hoping I get to stay here…it's a beautiful apartment, and I just moved into town."
"Really? From where?"
"Um…Fordham Bay," Duncan says quickly, formulating a lie.
Kimberly grins. "I love Fordham Bay! Don't you just love that city?"
"Well, I didn't get out much."
"Yeah, you've got a great body, you've probably been in the gym a lot."
Duncan raises an eyebrow at Kimberly's forward comment. He wonders if living with her is going to be a daily ordeal, but hopefully once he starts his reporter job at the Marquette Cove Messenger, he'll be spending less time at the apartment anyway.
All of which he had explained to Kimberly — who is inexplicably a nurse at the hospital in town. How she ever manages that is beyond Duncan, but maybe she's smarter than she appears to be. Sort of an Elle Woods type.
"Sorry about that," Kimberly says. "Well, look…I've tried calling other applicants, but none of them seem to be returning my calls. And my brothers who live in the building too didn't seem to want to move in either…so I guess the apartment is yours if you want it.
Without worrying any more what he's getting himself into, Duncan extends his hand. "I'll take it."
Kimberly shakes his hand, sealing the deal.
ONE MONTH LATER
Kimberly Black reaches into her purse for the keys to her apartment as she steps off the elevator. Approaching the apartment, she realizes she doesn't actually need them...the door is wide open.
"I'll kill you first, do you hear me?! I'll kill you!"
Startled, Kimberly rushes into the apartment to find her brother, Gregory, attacking her new roommate, Duncan. She also sees a young girl she doesn't recognize standing next to Greg, crying out for him to calm down.
"Oh my God, Greg!" Kimberly says. "What are you doing?!"
She grabs her brother by his arm and pulls him back, separating him from Duncan. Then she steps between them to keep Greg from attacking anymore. "Duncan, are you okay?"
Duncan slowly climbs to his feet, gasping for air. Kimberly whirls around and pushes Greg back.
"What do you think you're doing?" Kimberly says. "Did you flip out or something?"
"You're not rooming with him," Greg says, breathing heavily. "He's a rapist."
"What? That's impossible. That's just...impossible. I checked his references!"
"I'm sorry, it's true," the mystery girl says.
"Who are you?"
"Julia, I'm Duncan's niece," the girl says.
"I'm not a rapist," Duncan says. "I swear to you all, I'm not. I was arrested, but the case was thrown out."
"On a technicality," Greg says, correcting him.
"I'm a free man. The court doesn't think I'm a rapist."
"That's not what your brother told me," Greg says.
"My brother?"
"Detective Joel Kincaid? He gave me your case file," Greg says.
"My father sent you after my uncle?" Julia says.
"He told me the truth about him."
"My brother hates me," Duncan says, attempting to explain. "He's angry that I had an affair with his wife years ago...he blames me for her death. But I didn't kill her, and I didn't rape her either."
Kimberly frowns. "I need a moment alone with Duncan."
"Kimberly, no," Greg says. "I want him out of here today."
"Greg, please."
Greg sighs and reluctantly steps out into the hallway. Julia casts a comforting glance in Duncan's direction before she follows Greg, closing the door behind them.
"I want the truth," Kimberly says.
"I'm telling you the truth," Duncan says. "You can check out my records if you want, you can even talk to the judge in Seattle who threw out my case."
"This is...this all sounds so crazy."
"I know it does, but I'm asking you to trust me. Besides...if I was some crazy rapist, I wouldn't move in with someone and pay rent just to force them to have sex with me."
"I guess you're right," Kimberly decides.
"See?"
"Well, no...I'm talking about what you said about contacting the judge in Seattle. That other thing you mentioned is kind of creepy."
"Sorry," Duncan says, resting his hand on her shoulder.
"Hands."
"Oh..." Duncan pulls away from Kimberly. "I'll let you check out my story first. Then you can see if you want my hands...I mean, me living here."
"And I'm doing it today," Kimberly says, snapping. "So if it's not true, you're out by midnight. Or earlier, if I find out earlier. It could even be in an hour."
"Fine by me."
HOURS LATER
Anna Mitchell closes the door to Duncan's apartment so they can have a discussion alone. When Anna realized that her daughter's cell phone was turned off, Anna figured that she was probably somewhere she shouldn't be.
As is turned out, it was true. Julia had come to visit her uncle. Even though Anna railed against Julia's father for attempting to keep her from Duncan, Anna was still slightly worried that some of what Joel said about Duncan was true.
Besides, he did spend time in jail. Anna wanted to make sure Duncan was completely on the up and up before she allowed her daughter to pay him regular visits.
"Can I get you anything?" Duncan says.
"I won't be staying long. I'm here to tell you to stay away from my daughter."
Duncan laughs. "I guess Joel got to you too, huh?"
"I don't take orders from my ex-husband," Anna says.
"Well, then let me ease your worries. I'm not a hardened criminal. End of story."
"No, not end of story. How do I know I can trust you to be around my daughter?"
"Because she's my family, and I love her. You know that, Anna."
"Do I?"
"I was only in jail for twelve years. There were four years before that when I loved Julia like a father. Her own father was too busy trying to reconnect with his ex-wife to pay attention to her. Isn't that why you divorced him?"
Anna frowns. "I didn't come here to discuss my past with Joel."
"But that's what you need to hear about."
"What are you talking about?"
"How well do you know your husband? Do you know how he solves his hardest cases?"
"I don't understand."
"Do you know how he was able to put me behind bars?" Duncan says.
"Obviously, there was enough evidence against you."
"That's absolutely right. There was evidence. Evidence that Joel fabricated himself."
Anna's eyes widen. "Are you saying that Joel lied to get you put in jail?"
"That's exactly what I'm saying. The police reports, the witness accounts, the coroner's reports, all of those had to be fabricated to put me behind bars. I've been checking up on things, and they don't add up."
"This is ridiculous. Joel is a good cop. He wouldn't commit perjury to —"
"Put the man he thinks raped and murdered his wife behind bars? Are you sure about that?"
"I don't believe a single word of this. Both of you are trying to turn Julia and I against the other, and I'm not going to put up with it."
"I can prove it."
"Oh, really? How?" Anna demands.
"Well...I can't right now, but I will be able to soon."
Anna nods. "Of course. You'll be able to prove it soon."
"Yes, I will."
"Like I said, I want you to stay away from my daughter."
"Anna, please."
"No," Anna says. "I want you and Joel to stay away from my daughter. I'm not going to let her get mixed up in this ongoing feud between you two."
Anna turns to open the door. As she leaves the apartment, Duncan angrily slams the door behind her. Once again, Joel is railroading Duncan and turning his family against him.
"I'm not going to let it happen again," Duncan says, his eyes wild with anger. "If Joel wants a war...then he's got one."
QUENTIN BLOOD'S LIMOUSINE
ONE YEAR LATER
Duncan waits impatiently in Quentin Blood's limousine, feeling the exact opposite of the last time he was inside. Before he was elated, full of joy. Now he just feels bitter and disconnected.
His arrival in Marquette Cove was supposed to give him closure. He was going to prove Joel framed him by any means necessary, and he was going to watch as his brother's life crashed and burned.
Just like Duncan's had.
But now, he feels guilt. Guilt for all of the lies and all of the deception.
He stares out the tinted window, peering into the blackness of the moonlight night. And before he can react, he even realizes it, Quentin is in the seat next to him.
"Did I zone out?" Duncan says.
"Learn to pay attention," Quentin says, frowning. "It could cost you your life."
"I don't have a life worth living. My life is...consumed with hate."
"And there's something wrong with that?"
Duncan nods. "Yes, there is. I'm developing feelings for my roommate. Kimberly. I think I may be in love with her."
Quentin rolls his eyes. "How sweet."
"Which is why I have to stop this," Duncan says. "I have to stop the plans we have for Joel. He framed me, I know that. But I can't...I can't manufacture evidence to have him thrown off the force."
"And why not?" Quentin nearly growls this at Duncan. "After all this time?"
"Maybe I feel like there should be more to my life than vendettas," Duncan says. "More than anger. I want the chance to be able to fall in love. For real, this time. Not with my brother's wife. With someone completely pure, and beautiful, and —"
"Christ, shut your fucking mouth and get out of my limousine. This conversation is over."
DUNCAN & KIMBERLY'S APARTMENT
MONTHS LATER
Duncan keeps waiting for the other shoe to drop. And it possibly has. For the past few months, Duncan has been having the worst kind of nightmares. Nightmares coupled with blackouts and waking up in odd places.
But what was troubling him even more was the fact that he was keeping yet another secret from Kimberly, his new fiancée.
Ending his vendetta against his brother was one of the most freeing moments of his life. And afterward, it allowed him to fully give his heart to someone for once. Even during his relationship with Kelly, he had never been able to fully open up to her. They were too busy hiding their relationship from Joel, remaining in the shadows, remaining secretive.
With Kimberly, things were different.
At least, he wanted them to be.
Now he has this secret. Something wrong with him that he's keeping from the woman he loves. And it's killing him.
Having lost his watch at some point in the night, Duncan has no idea what time it is when he pushes open the door to his apartment. But whatever time it is, Kimberly is awake enough to be packing in the living room.
"I'm not going to ask where you where," Kimberly says, lifting her suitcase. "I'm not going to keep asking you to let me in."
"Kim, I —"
"I'm just going to leave."
She breezes past Duncan, pushing him aside as she goes into the hallway and toward the elevator.
WINDMILLS
KING'S BAY, 2008
Duncan slides into his seat at the posh restaurant, noting the apparent affluence of the surrounding patients. Duncan will never have the kind of money most of these people have.
He's a freelance journalist. And not even a well-paid one. He's a bottom of the rung freelance newspaper journalist. Not magazines, newspapers. The media breed that's dying faster than talk radio.
"You seem nervous," the dark-haired woman sitting before him says.
"Do I?" Duncan says.
"Is this your first time?"
"Oh, don't worry, I'm fine. I've done this before."
"I wasn't worried about you," she says coolly. "I was worried that you might screw up this article. I am not from the school of people who believe that even bad press is good press."
Duncan nods. "No, of course not."
He digs into his knapsack and removes a notepad, ready to scribble down his subject's every word. He can tell by the daggers she's staring at him that she'll probably want to even check his notes before he writes the article's first draft.
"Let's talk about a few of the projects your publishing company has on hand?"
As the business woman drones on, Duncan scribbles notes while taking brief sips from the water in front of him. Halfway through the interview, he's suddenly unable to breathe.
He drops his pen and grasps at his neck.
"What in the hell is wrong with you? Are you even listening to me?"
"I can't..." Duncan struggles to speak. "I can't...breathe..."
He collapses and tumbles out of his seat. It takes a few moments for the businesswoman to react, but she eventually reaches for her phone in order to call 911.
As Duncan's plight draws the attention of the restaurant's patrons, a man rushes out of the crowd to appear at Duncan's side.
The man raises a hand to keep everyone at bay, "Don't worry, I'm a doctor!"
He peers into Duncan's eyes, smiling briefly. Duncan, barely conscious, catches sight of the man and realizes that he recognizes the man. And he's certainly one of the last people Duncan expected to see in King's Bay.
"Doctor...Doctor Collins?"
"It's okay, Duncan," Collins whispers. "This will all be over soon."
*****
I've searched far and wide for things that I've lost.
Family. Memories. Almost like a piece of my soul.
And now, that I've finally found what I've lost...finally know what it is that I'm searching for...
ABANDONED WAREHOUSE
JANUARY 2009
It's brought me to this place. Searching for a man I hated for years, but now, find myself compelled to save at all costs...
"Your real name isn't Miller Falls...it's Duncan Kincaid."
Miller stares at Collins, then at Black. This mysterious woman before him, responsible for kidnapping and torturing Collins, is his fiancée? It can't be true.
"You're lying," Miller says.
"Let's find out later, shall we?" Black says, resuming her fight with Miller.
She punches Miller in the face, sending him sailing to the ground. Miller attempts to recover, but Black is on his tail. She grabs him by his legs and steps on his back, attempting to crush his spine.
"I'm here to get answers!" Black shouts. "I don't have time for your fucking games."
Black sees Victor crawling across the floor and briefly abandons Miller. Black hurries over to Victor to ensure that he doesn't get away. As soon as she reaches over to grab him, she hears a gun cock in the distance.
"Don't move!"
Black ignores the command and spins around, finding a rugged-looking man aimed in her direction.
"Who the hell are you?" Black demands.
"Joel Kincaid," the man says, glancing in Miller's direction. "But you already know that, don't you Kimberly?"
Is this still even my family?
TO BE CONTINUED...
STORY BY
IRA MADISON
NEXT ISSUE:
Will Miller/Duncan's family reunion go off without a hitch?
Will Black still want to kill Victor?
And more importantly, will she and Miller kiss and make up?
Find out this and more in ...
Paper #8: "Victor Collins Gives Good Face"
